Many drivers in England and Wales support stricter drink-driving legislation, research from the RAC has revealed.

A survey by the motoring organisation found that 59 per cent of those questioned are in favour of reducing the current regulations relating to blood alcohol levels. The RAC is calling on the government to reduce them to 50mg per 100ml of blood, which would bring England and Wales in line with Scotland and Northern Ireland.

At present, anyone can drive with up to 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

In addition, the RAC survey found that 21 per cent would be happy for the limit to be set even lower, at 20mg per 100ml of blood.

Casualty figures show that the same number of people – 143 – lost their lives as a result of drink driving in 2012 and 2016, indicating that despite various awareness campaigns the message still isn’t getting through to some people.

Pete Williams, RAC road safety spokesman, commented: “Can we really afford not to follow the majority who operate a 50mg limit if there is even the slightest chance that it will lead to fewer lives being lost or ruined?”

The RAC’s 2017 Report on Motoring revealed that there has been a rise in the number of drivers who are worried about people getting behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol, compared to last year.

However, the main safety concern among motorists is still the use of handheld mobile phones while people are behind the wheel – 16 per cent of those questioned said this was their biggest concern, up from 13 per cent in 2016. In total, 40 per cent of drivers name it as a top four concern this year.